Boot Flex ?s

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09-08-2006, 11:47 AM

Boot Flex ?s

I need to buy new boots. Step 1 is to talk to Larry, but I don't think he's in/answering his phone. So Step .75 is to post this.

Right now I have 4-year-old (or five?) Salomon X-Wave 8s. The biggest problem is that I am swimming in the shells. When I talked to Larry last April he recommended going with Lange or Rossi boots based on my foot shape.

I found a very good deal on some Rossi Elite Bandit 1s (05/06 year) that I *think* are the proper shell size. I guess this would be about equivalent to Lange 100 FR in terms of flex (assuming Lange and Rossi measure the same way). There's another model (Rossi Elite Bandit Carbon) that is significantly stiffer (120 flex) for about double the price. The question I have is "do I need the extra stiffness?" I'm 6'9" and 225 lbs. Ability-wise, my technique is not great...I'm kind of like the bowler who's learned to bowl well with shitty technique, but his lack of a solid foundation is keeping him from breaking through to the top level. I'm about 95% self-taught, so no solid race background like some here have, but I'm getting better.

One thing I don't want to have happen is to outgrow my gear, ability-wise, before it wears out. I've been improving pretty quickly recently, such that I outgrew a pair of 12-din bindings I bought at the beginning of last season. I would hate to be held back by a too-soft boot in a year. My plan is to go all-out (intuition liner, custom footbed, booster straps) so I don't know if that affects recommendations at all.

Also, a lot of the FR boots have lower cuffs. I have pretty long shins, so I'm wondering if I would be better off with a race boot with a cuff that is more proportional to my shin length.

Sorry for the wordiness. I expect initial heckling, then a transition to full-blown nerdery.
09-08-2006, 08:09 PM
nick > jesus

you weight allot (not for size, but for normal sized people), i would say you probably need something on the stiffer side
09-08-2006, 08:21 PM
Z

You need stiff, just because of the leverage you have....

Also, no boot company measures the same as another, so those numbers are pretty much useless, FYI.

A lange 120 might work for you, and they can be found for a decent price...
09-08-2006, 08:32 PM
rugbydave

Dude, I'd say you totally need a stiffer boot if the Rossi is equivalent to a Lange 100R. I bought new boots last sunday (Atomic GS9 Race with custom footbeds) at Surefoot in whis and tried on a bunch of others first (as I kinda had my heart set on another set of head Worldcups). One of the other boots I tried on was the Lange 100R and found it to be waaaaaaaaay to soft. Granted this was flexing em in the store, where it is much warmer and hence they are softer, but I'm also 2" and 60lbs lighter than you... So yeah, go stiffer fer sure, just my $0.02...
09-08-2006, 08:45 PM

damn. first two responses, and serious replies. i'm shocked.

in my old boots, it was really hard to gauge the stiffness from a performance standpoint, simply because my heel kept lifting up whenever i flexed it.

anyways, we're looking at $180 vs. $330 prices between the rossi boots I found. and I couldn't find any lange 120s online (FR or race) in my size. so if someone has a line on some new 30.0/30.5 shells for under $300, let me know.
09-08-2006, 09:03 PM
Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squatch

damn. first two responses, and serious replies. i'm shocked.

in my old boots, it was really hard to gauge the stiffness from a performance standpoint, simply because my heel kept lifting up whenever i flexed it.

anyways, we're looking at $180 vs. $330 prices between the rossi boots I found. and I couldn't find any lange 120s online (FR or race) in my size. so if someone has a line on some new 30.0/30.5 shells for under $300, let me know.

So I may have a hookup for you. Technica Icon either 30 or 30.5 shell...Used.

New liner would pimp em out, but the current one could work....Decently stiff boot if I remember, but not super stiff.

shoot a pm if yer innnnnerested.
09-08-2006, 09:25 PM
nick > jesus

they might be a little soft, and i don't know what size you ware, but i may be able to hook you up with brand new krypton cross's, you could always get the stiffer tongue for them, i got them for my dad when they were on sale on SAC in the spring but they are a half size big, cant decide what to do with them

edit: I'm stupid, i will go check the size of them
09-08-2006, 09:27 PM
El Chupacabra

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squatch

so if someone has a line on some new 30.0/30.5 shells for under $300, let me know.

Wait for the fall ski swaps?

Seems like the swaps around here (Tahoe) always have an ample selection of larger size boots (29 through 31); it's the smaller (26-28) ones that go quickly.
09-08-2006, 09:28 PM
nick > jesus

They are 9.5 US 27.0 mondo, so a little small i guess
09-08-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z

So I may have a hookup for you. Technica Icon either 30 or 30.5 shell...Used.

New liner would pimp em out, but the current one could work....Decently stiff boot if I remember, but not super stiff.

shoot a pm if yer innnnnerested.

hmm...how do technica's run? my current problem with my boots is the shell fit. it's one shell size too long (31.5 mondo, should be at a 30.5). Also, my foot is very narrow, so the solly shell is waaay too wide. I'm probably one of the few people who would fit into a plug boot without discomfort.
09-08-2006, 10:16 PM
nick > jesus

to my knowledge the run relatively narrow, not like nordica narrow but pretty narrow. Nordica might be one for you to look into
09-08-2006, 10:19 PM
marshalolson

squach, i aint no larry, but have some experiance fitting boots, you and z should roll by and we can see how his shit fits if you are interested.
09-09-2006, 04:55 PM
Z

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squatch

hmm...how do technica's run? my current problem with my boots is the shell fit. it's one shell size too long (31.5 mondo, should be at a 30.5). Also, my foot is very narrow, so the solly shell is waaay too wide. I'm probably one of the few people who would fit into a plug boot without discomfort.

My foot is super-narrow, and I rocked these technicas. I think you may dig em.....Cheap too...
09-10-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z

My foot is super-narrow, and I rocked these technicas. I think you may dig em.....Cheap too...

Thanks, Z.

I talked to larry, and on his recommendation I pulled the trigger on the Rossis. But they are always returnable, so I'll check out your technicas too.:D
09-10-2006, 11:27 AM
Cono Este

From my experience, narrow = Lange, Technica.

Be careful if you go for a race stiff boot. The liners are less forgiving if they do not fit right. = mucho pain.

I went to a comfort fit a few yrs back because i just could'nt get it right. I am a big guy too, stuck between 29.5 and 30. The 30 is a bigger shell size so a 29.5 with a more forgiving liner was a better fit for me.